Allanw

Next time, cycle the ignition 5 or 6 times to prime the lines. On cars I've had that dropped the pressure, you could hear the pump pitch change when it reached pressure. If there is no air, it should only take a couple of seconds of pump run time. Does it use a single coolant temp sensor for cold start enrichment?

Like so?

Get a mate with skinny arms and 3 elbows to do it. Put a new or rebuilt one in - if you're using second hand, you may have to do it again

Awesome - is the the coloour my axle stands ended up?

I got to 130 on boxing day... ... of course I was hardly moving, in a paddock, going around and around a lot After the Beach Buggy clutch packed a sad, me and my 4 year old went for a bash in the E39 - does pretty well with the DSC off . Mrs wondered why there was do much grass stuck in the mudflaps - If she asks, I got stuck

If it's the type you mean, I got one like this: $250, tidy, couple of minor marks etc, silver trim with the radio buttons, phone bottons and cruise buttons etc. Mate is coming up tomorrow (aja540i) and I can get him to take it to Auckland (north shore) for you to collect, and you can give him cash. PM me, I'll PM you my mobile if you want to text me - need to know before 10 or 11AM probably.

They're both just autos

I have a coin tray in the back

Some LEDS don't strobe, some do. LCM4 is the only one you can turn off front side light cold checks. You can turn off the warnings in some other models, but it doesn't stop the strobing, as they still do the checks

It seems to happen a lot - tim325i was Alanw (or similar) then I came along to confuse everyone, and he changed his name... which I didn't realise you could do until very recently!

Good find! Previous Owners "quality" repairs... *groan*

There are some cheap aftermarket ones on Ebay, but they aren't high quality - fit is a bit off and doesn't have one of the rubber bits fitted. Being cheap aftermarket crap though, the plastic will probably last longer than the recycled German stuff that disintegrates in contact with air... like the superior taiwanese cup holders

They may not give faults, but may "strobe" from the current pulses used to test the lights. The strobing is pretty distracting to other drivers at imes, and may cause an accident, if someone thinks you are "flashing" them to let them out or something. On ours E39, I had to upgrade the LCM to an LCM4 to be able to code the cold checks out.

I suspect you'll have misfire codes for the cylinders, and a code for an oxygen sensor, or fuel trim. Depending on the scanner used, you'll either have a generic code, or a BMW specific one. If you have an O2 cell fault, a mechanic should know the O2 cell MAY not be at fault - If you're talking about the M54 in the 530i, it's most likely a vacuum leak - most common is the intake boot. Running too lean (because of the leak), gives an O2, or fuel trim fault.

True... and if you're tempted by a 320i auto, look at something like an E34 540i. The fuel consumption will be surprisingly similar, but Nana in her Vitz won't blitz you at the traffic light grand prix

P.C. mode off... Errr... Why were they both in the car, with the doors closed, without the key? Aha..... hotboxing.

You didn't mention the firewood dash trim

Other than the wrong muffler, and the ///M badge, it all looks like an original 325i SE. Not very many of them around, though a surprising number of them are manuals. Dad has one in Glacier Blue, but with about 230kms on it, has had it 16 years this month!

Spare wheel well needs removing - it does'nt have a spare anyway - you can't fit one with the 7 seats anyway. I can't do a big thread yet... I already nearly gave up once*, and I'm still not 100% on the details of if it will work out. I have a semi-thread on nzveedubnuts. *Mrs went in the Touran, and thought it was powerful enough. I didn't agree. She was pregnant, so I didn't argue. Baby is out (3 boys now!), so I am safe to "discuss" it with her.

Get a 518i bagde from an E34.

15K is perfectly adequate with 6.5 litres of good oil in it.

Dunno if it's lego like 0 certainly some heavy duty wiring time will be involved. Touran and 3.2 VR6 - same as the R32 Golf - 184KW, 6 speed manual and 4 motion AWD. Couple of floorpan mods for the 4wd, but mostly bolt in. should be adequate for the Mrs kindy run

Dunno about how the prices will compare for that stuff, but there was some VW stuff I got from here: http://www.fcpeuro.com They do a few euro brands, and the timing chain stuff was very cheap, reasonable shipping and helpful staff.

Check the battery disconnection device in the boot. If the aribags are triggered, it blows this device to disconnect the battery from the rest of the car. and they can go bad/intermittant, causing problems like this.

Shame it looks like a Kia Cerato with big wheels though. Its like they're BMW's "orientation confused" model - not a masculine type of SUV and not a "Julian Clary" type of hairdresser car either. The X5 M looks great - really don't get the X6 at all. Actually, an X version of the Z4 would make more sense - at least it's different to the X5, not basically the same thing without the extra boot space.